Home again, home again...

This morning around 11:00, the neighbor children's grandma Ann came up (all the way from Kintyre) to take over in the babysitting department for a while.  SO, tonight I'm sleeping in my own bed.  :)  I actually feel blessed to have been sleeping so well these past 4 nights on the M.'s couch, but it still is nice to be home.   The children (Amelia, James and Michael) and I cleaned the main-floor of their house yesterday and were done by lunch-time, as they all wanted to help with the vacuuming and dishes, so things went quickly.  We spent the rest of the day playing "Restaurant" and tag and some games that I'd taken along and baking cookies, oh yes, and they all took a nap.  It was the first day that Johanna and Tracy Jo weren't there as well, so we were able to play more "Big kid" type games.  It's been really nice that Amelia has been helping a lot with caring for Johanna and Tracy when they're there.  She told me that, someday, when she grows up, she wants to be a babysitter just like me. 

I'll be resuming the position of "Mom-for-a-week" tomorrow (late) afternoon and will stay with them until Tuesday night when their parents will return from Florida.

Meanwhile, at home, I'm not even sure what's all be going on?  :)  The house looked nice and clean when I got home this morning and there was good food to eat, and the animals are all alive and well, so I know they've been busy!   My dad did hurt his back by twisting funny, so he had to see a chiropractor yesterday.  There have been no more calves born since Jacob's on Monday, for which we're glad, as it's been cold and snowy.

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow, but am not promising anything, as I want to get lots of things done before leaving again.

Good night, all you dear peoples.  ~

The natives are silly...

This is the 2nd night that I'm spending with the neighbor children.  They are so silly tonight!  I'd hoped to have them sleeping soundly by now, but they're still talking amongst themselves in the bedroom.  Awww well, they don't have to get up early in the morning, so it doesn't make a big difference.  We had popcorn and movie night tonight.  We watched Winnie the Pooh.  ;)    After Paula came and picked up Johanna and Tracy Jo at supper time, I took these 3 to my house and we did the evening goat/turkey chores together and I pushed them on our huge swing set.  They enjoyed their time a lot and keep talking about it now.....

Happy first day of Spring everyone! 

We're home, just busy...

My mom, Andrew and I had a great time at the convention and at our friend's home!  We drove home yesterday afternoon and arrived just in time to make supper.  I'll try to give a full account of our adventures sometime in the near future.  Right now, I have to play catch-up in the sleep department!

I babysat "My" girls today.  When I got home, I heard about one of Jacob's heifers who'd needed help calving today and then the calf was dead, so he's sad about that.  I guess the calving season is about to begin?   

Tomorrow, some neighbors are leaving their 3 children in my care while they go on vacation to sunny Florida, so I'll be gone from home for several days.  I may find some time to log-in to my blog over there and write, but I may not too?  Zach and/or Paula will be bringing Johanna and Tracy Jo over for me to babysit too for several of the days, so it will be fun and busy with 5 children---ages 5, 4, 4, 2, and 1.  :)

No posts forseen in the immediate future...

Tomorrow, in the morning, after we (Mom, Andrew and I) have all of our packing, hair-cut (Andrew's), and showers done, we are heading for Grand Forks to attend the annual ND home school conference.  Hooray!!!  :)   Although Andrew and I are no longer officially in school, we LOVE going to the convention and listening to all of the inspiring sessions and also seeing so many friends (some that we only get to see once a year).  Tomorrow evening there will be a large used-book sale which is always interesting.  Andrew will have a table there to promote Project Appleseed.  He had several pictures from past shoots printed in town yesterday and I helped him organize them on pages tonight, then we laminated them to make a nice display that should last for years to come.  During the convention, Andrew will be sitting at the convention booth almost all of the time, taking orders from people who want to get the recordings of  all of the workshops (as there are about 5 or 6 going on all at the same time throughout the day).  My mom and I volunteered to introduce 5 of the workshop speakers too, so we'll be helping out some too.  Then too, we're all singing in the state-wide home school choir.  :)   It will all be so fun!!!

After the convention ends on Saturday, we plan to travel to some friends of ours' house in MN and spend the night at their place, visiting a while the next day, then heading home.    We're so grateful to my dad and Jacob to be willing to stay home and do the chores and everything so we can go!!!! 


******I do have a prayer request tonight for a young lady named Lydia----and her whole family.  She is the convention coordinator's daughter. 

Here is what her sister, Hannah (http://www.gloryandgrace-hannah.blogspot.com/) sent me this afternoon (her mother wrote the following):

"Lydia had an MRI done today due to some weakness on her left side, and inability to use her left hand and leg. We found out today that she does have a brain tumor in her right hemisphere and it is inoperable. We know it's about 4 cm (1-1/4") and that has probably been growing for awhile. The pediatric oncologist we met with today has referred us to neurosurgery and we will meet with them on Thursday. They have a biopsy scheduled for Friday at the hospital, in which Lydia will need to stay overnight.

We do not know yet if it's benign or cancer, and we are asking you praying friends and family to pray with us that it is not cancer! If it is benign, she will still need radiation to shrink it - so pray the Lord will shrink it even before the radiation! Please also pray against Satan that he is defeated! We have a BIG GOD and he is WORTHY to be thanked and praised no matter what the circumstances. Lots of tears have been shed today - and a deeper realization of how we cherish our family and unfortunately take them for granted all too often."

Busy 2 days...

Much happened since I wrote last, which wasn't all that long ago really....

Outside of the usuals (baking bread too), my mom and I went with Elizabeth to Napoleon for the meeting last night and spent an hour setting up for it, then it lasted about 3 hours and took another hour to repack everything.  Driving home was scary, as the wind had really come up and it was a blizzard.  After a good while, we did make it home.  The 3 of us talked then until well after 1:00am and then decided we really must get some sleep. 

I woke up when Andrew did this morning and went out to do the chores with him.  He and Mom went to Bismarck all day and just got home.  Dad and Jacob worked on the shelves in the shop.  I went over and babysat most of the day. 

The girls were so funny today!  Between rolling tape rolls around on the floor; the girls rolling on empty water jugs all over the living room; drawing on the patio door with "Window markers"; spinning pennies; drawing pictures and then Johanna showing them to their dog, Stash; doing dishes until the floor was nearly flooded; playing with playdough; and Johanna getting interested in doing her hair and trying on all kinds of hair things, it was a fun day! 

I'd best go help put the Sam's goodies away now....  :)

Broccoli, broccoli, broccoli...

When we placed our last Azure Standard order, my mom ordered a case of organic broccoli.  SO, we've been eating lots of broccoli the last few days, and today Jacob helped me cut the rest up; blanch and bag it; then put it in the freezer.  We got 10 quarts out of what was left, minus the 4 heads I left out for eating.    I also made another gallon of yogurt; 2 quarts of kefir; and some peanut butter cookies. 

I washed my bedding, amongst other laundry, and redusted and vacuumed my room, as we're having sleepover company tomorrow night and my room gets used as the guest room at times like this.  :)




Andrew worked on memorizing the history lessons for the Appleseed Program and spent a lot of time on the phone with a gentleman who's helping him.    He also fixed our Turbo Oven that broke AGAIN.

My dad and Jacob worked on building more shelving in the shop with the lumber my dad bought last week for that purpose. 

My mom was gone all day for a class with Elizabeth H. and is still not home.  My mom and Elizabeth will be hosting a meeting tomorrow (Monday) evening in Napoleon to talk about the health modality called "BodyTalk".  If anyone is interested in attending, you can contact my mom (A Ray of Hope) or me for details. 

Those are the highlights of this lovely day.  Oh, yes, several cows pushed the panels apart up by the water tank and made their escape to enjoy the springish weather!

Making breakfast/lunch/supper at this time of night?

Yep, I just did all three.  It was easy though, as I was just packing for my mom's meals as she'll be in class all day tomorrow in Bismarck.  

It was a peaceful, quiet day here.  We played ping-pong for a few hours (yes, the games are getting harder!), and read in "The blessing book"; sang hymns; etc....  Mom and I just finished a ton of dishes now as she didn't want to leave me with a disastrous kitchen tomorrow.  :)

 

Here is a picture of me on my birthday, holding my delicious ice-cream cake!

Wasn't it cute?